Earlier, Karnataka High Court too dismissed the petitions questioning the decision of the state government.
Published Sep 19, 2025 | 3:00 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 19, 2025 | 5:26 PM
Supreme Court
Synopsis: The Karnataka government has earlier invited Mushtaq, who won the Booker Prize 2025, for the English translation of Heart Lamp, to inaugurate the famed Naada Habba Mysuru Dasara festival. Following which, Opposition in the state, BJP raised objection.
Supreme Court on Friday, 19 September, dismissed plea challenging Karnataka government’s invite to Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq for Mysuru Dasara festival inauguration.
According to Livelaw, Senior Advocate PB Suresh, for the petitioner, submitted that a non-Hindu person cannot be allowed to perform the pujas. Justice Vikram Nath then pronounced, “Dismissed.”
Livelaw further reported that, advocate Suresh argued, “It’s purely political…no reason why they should be brought inside temple for religious activity…,”he said. Justice Nath then repeated, “Dismissed.”
He further alleged that the invitee had made certain objectionable remarks in the past hurting religious sentiments and said that such a person cannot be invited. Justice Nath repeated that the matter has been dismissed.
Earlier, Karnataka High Court too dismissed the petitions questioning the decision of the state government.
The high court said that it was not persuaded to accept that inviting a person of a different faith to inaugurate the function violates legal or constitutional rights of the petitioners.
A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi heard three petitions regarding the issue, including one filed by BJP leader and former Mysuru MP Prathap Sinha.
The court remarked that “Vijaydashmi is a festival of victory of Good over evil and is celebrated across the length of the country” and dismissed the pleas.
The Karnataka government has earlier invited Mushtaq, who won the Booker Prize 2025, for the English translation of Heart Lamp, to inaugurate the famed Naada Habba Mysuru Dasara festival. Following which, Opposition in the state, BJP raised objection.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah welcoming to the verdict noted that, “Both the High Court and the Supreme Court have dismissed the matters. Dasara is not a religious festival, it is a state festival, a cultural event.”
He further added, “We must build coexistence and unity in diversity. Dr Ambedkar had said that when India achieved independence, we were entering a society riddled with contradictions. Real development, he reminded, comes only when the weaker sections of society are uplifted.”
In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said, “Mysuru Dasara cannot be confined to a religious framework. We have consistently maintained that it is a festival celebrated by all the people of the state, transcending caste and religion. However, systematic misinformation was spread against this, and attempts were made to divide society. I believe that the Supreme Court’s verdict has now validated our government’s position. I hope that Mother Chamundeshwari grants wisdom to those divisive minds that sow the seeds of discrimination based on caste and religion.”
ಮೈಸೂರು ದಸರಾ ಉದ್ಘಾಟನೆಗೆ ಬೂಕರ್ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ವಿಜೇತ ಸಾಹಿತಿ ಬಾನು ಮುಷ್ತಾಕ್ ಅವರನ್ನು ಆಹ್ವಾನಿಸಿದ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನಿಲುವಿನ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಸಲ್ಲಿಕೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದ ಅರ್ಜಿಯನ್ನು ವಜಾಗೊಳಿಸಿರುವ ಸರ್ವೋಚ್ಚ ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯದ ತೀರ್ಪನ್ನು ಸ್ವಾಗತಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.
ಮೈಸೂರು ದಸರಾವನ್ನು ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ನೆಲೆಗಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಸೀಮಿತವಾಗಿಸಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಜಾತಿ, ಧರ್ಮಗಳನ್ನು…
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 19, 2025
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Nolan Patrick Pinto)
